ADELAIDE City Council wants to raise parking fees at some of its carparks to help fund a renewed focus on the traditional council work of roads and footpaths.

Budget papers to be presented to a council committee tomorrow show selected fees at the council’s seven UPark sites would rise by up to 20 per cent.

Every site will have some increases but not all rates will change. Night parking at Gawler Place will remain at $6.

The proposed increases would be separate from the State Government’s planned carpark levy. The council has said it will not pass on the State Government’s levy until it has passed through Parliament.

Council officials yesterday defended the proposed increases as “modest”, arguing that “on average” UPark fees were in line with inflation and all money was reinvested in infrastructure and services.

Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis accused the council of hypocrisy, after it campaigned against the State Government’s parking tax proposal.

“This is an embarrassing revelation and the ultimate hypocrisy,’’ he said. “After arguing for two years against the transport development levy, the council have been drawing up plans to increase fees by 20 per cent, with absolutely no requirements to use the funds to decongest our city roads and improve public transport.”

The Wyatt St UPark.Source:News Limited

According to the council, an extra $8 million will be invested in roads, footpaths and lighting improvements, taking the total “asset maintenance” budget to $30 million.

Officials said this was a move away from more large-scale infrastructure projects.

The proposed budget reveals short-term fees for parking less than 30 minutes at some UParks would increase from $2.50 to $3 while parkingfor up to an hour at other locations will rise from $5 to $6.

Other charges, such as those for motorists parking for up to five hours at some location, will rise by 18 per cent from $22 to $26, according to the proposed budget, to be considered by the Finance and Corporate Governance Committee.

UPark price structures are determined by the location of the car parks and proximity to rival operators. Street parking costs are expected to rise by double the rate of inflation in certain areas. It is expected that council rates across the CBD will rise by 3.5 per cent, based on current estimates, although they are subject to finalisation by councillors later this month.

Councillor Houssam Abiad said that he understood public anger over rising prices but the money would be used well.

“Every penny goes back into infrastructure and services for residents, business operators and city workers and visitors,” he said.

The papers earmark $12 million for new but smaller construction undisclosed projects, $11.6 million for operating projects and $1.6 million for sponsorships and grants.